April 13, 2018, Kyiv, in the Mariinsky Park, a group of radicals blocked the approaches to the monument to Vatutin, splattered it with red paint and attacked veterans and civilians who came to honor the memory of the liberator of Kiev from the Nazi invaders. Co-chairman of the OPPOSITION BLOC faction Yuriy Boyko sent a deputy inquiry to the Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov demanding to bring to justice the offenders.
The deputy inquiry notes that a group of people began to push away pensioners, women, civilians from the monument, to pry flowers from their hands, insult, beat and use tear gas against them.
“Unfortunately, but this was happening in the presence and with complete inactivity of law enforcement: their demands to stop illegal actions were insufficient and not backed up by adequate actions. The lack of proper response by law enforcement officers only incited the radicals to a more active manifestation of aggression,” Yuriy Boyko underlined in his inquiry.
The MP noted that according to Article 296 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, these actions of the radicals are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 2 to 5 years, according to Art. 297 – restriction of freedom for a term of 4 to 5 years or imprisonment from 4 to 7 years.
“Taking into account the above, the public outcry and the severity of the committed offense on the basis of Article 16 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Status of the MP of Ukraine” we demand from you, dear Arsen Borysovych, to take this case under personal control, conduct its objective and impartial investigation, establish and bring to justice those responsible for the commission of crimes. We also demand to check the actions of law enforcement officers who not only failed to ensure the right of citizens to conduct a peaceful action, but also by their inaction contributed to the escalation of the situation and put people at risk,” the inquiry says.
On the decisions and measures taken, the co-chairman of the OPPOSITION BLOC fraction asks to inform the deadline in the current legislation.